State v. Peterson

744 P.2d 870, 227 Mont. 511, 44 State Rptr. 1268, 1987 Mont. LEXIS 1006

Opinions

ORDER MODIFYING OPINION ON REHEARING

The State has petitioned for a rehearing in this case upon the limited issue of whether we have ordered an appropriate remedy for the improper multiple convictions of the defendant Bailey Peterson.

In its petition, the State points out that the offense of possession of dangerous drugs is a lesser-included offense of the possession of dangerous drugs with intent to sell, citing State v. Mitchell (Mont. 1981), [_Mont._,] 625 P.2d 1155, 1159, a case that involved the conviction of the defendant both upon an offense and a lesser-included offense. We held:

“. . . as previously stated, the trial court erred in entering judgment and conviction on both counts, not in submitting those charges to the jury. Consequently, if any prejudice to the defendant resulting from the district court’s error, it arose solely in the sentencing process which was conducted on the basis of an improper conviction of both solicitation and criminal mischief. Prejudice to the defendant in this regard can be cured by remanding the cause for resentencing.”

It appears that the general rule is that if a defendant is convicted of two crimes, one of which is a lesser-included offense of the other, the proper remedy is to remand the case to the trial court with instructions to vacate the conviction of the lesser charge where the sentence for the lesser-included offense does not exceed that for the main offense. U.S. v. Stromen (2d Cir. 1981), 667 F.2d 416, 417; U.S. v. Evans (2d Cir. 1981), 665 F.2d 54, 56; Tuckfield v. State (Alaska 1981), 621 P.2d 1315; People v. Brown (1974), 185 Colo. 272, 523 P.2d 986.

The defendant answers the petition, contending that he will be subject to double jeopardy if a new trial is had as ordered by the court, and that his conviction should be reversed and the case dismissed.

We conclude, however, that the better course is to reverse the conviction for the lesser-included offense only, and to remand for resentencing.

Therefore, following the path established by this Court in State v. Mitchell, supra, we modify our opinion decided July 28, 1987 as to the mandate for reversal and new trial. As modified, we order that this cause be remanded to the District Court. The conviction of the defendant for the offense of possession of dangerous drugs with intent to sell is by this Court affirmed. The conviction of the defendant for the offense of possession of dangerous drugs is by this Court vacated and set aside. The sentence heretofore imposed by the District Court is also vacated, and the District Court is ordered to re-sentence the defendant solely on the conviction here affirmed, after notice and hearing with respect to the resentencing.

DATED this 15th day of September, 1987.

s/J.A. Turnage, Chief Justice

s/John C. Sheehy, Justice

s/John Conway Harrison, Justice

s/Fred J. Weber, Justice

s/L.C. Gulbrandson, Justice

s/R.C. McDonough, Justice